Frank Porreca, PhD

Professor, Pharmacology and Anesthesiology
Associate Department Head, Pharmacology
Professor, Cancer Biology - GIDP
Professor, Neuroscience - GIDP
 
Education: 
  • Temple University, Philadelphia, 1982 (Ph.D., Pharmacology)
Honors and Awards: 
  • Distinguished Professor, Mayo Clinic 2004
  • Founder’s Day Speaker, University of Arizona 2001
  • F.W. Kerr Award, American Pain Society 2000
  • 9th Covino Lecturer, Harvard University 2000
  • Sterling Professor of Pharmacology, Albany Medical School 2000
Major Areas of Research Interest: 
  • Neurobiology of Pathological Pain States
  • Cancer pain
  • Bone biology
  • Neuropathic pain
  • Neurobiology of Opioids
  • Opioid-induced paradoxical pain
Selected Publications: 
Vera-Portocarrero LP, Yie JX, Kowal J, Ossipov MH, King T, Porreca F. Descending facilitation from the rostral ventromedial medulla maintains visceral pain in rats with experimental pancreatitis. Gastroenterology. 130(7):2155-64, 2006.
 
Agnes RS, Lee YS, Davis P, Ma SW, Badghisi H, Porreca F, Lai J, Hruby VJ. Structure-activity relationships of bifunctional peptides based on overlapping pharmacophores at opioid and cholecystokinin receptors. J Med Chem. 49(10):2868-75, 2006.
 
Amir R, Argoff CE, Bennett GJ, Cummins TR, Durieux ME, Gerner P, Gold MS, Porreca F, Strichartz GR. The role of sodium channels in chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. J Pain. 7(5 Suppl 3):S1-29, 2006.
 
Ibrahim MM, Rude ML, Stagg NJ, Mata HP, Lai J, Vanderah TW, Porreca F, Buckley NE, Makriyannis A, Malan TP Jr. CB2 cannabinoid receptor mediation of antinociception. Pain. 122(1-2):36-42, 2006.
 
Vera-Portocarrero LP, Zhang ET, Ossipov MH, Xie JY, King T, Lai J, Porreca F. Descending facilitation from the rostral ventromedial medulla maintains nerve injury-induced central sensitization. Neuroscience. 2006. (E-publication)
 
Sponsored Research Through MSRP: 
Steven Galper, (MSRP 1994, 1995): "To examine the effect of inhibition of synthesis of FOS protein, using antisense or mismatch oligonucleotide, on measures of neuropathic pain intensity after production of an experimental neuropathic pain syndrome"
 
NIH Undergraduate Diversity Program: 
Pablo Hernandez, 2013, "Molecular Pharmacology & Targeted Drug Therapy in Migraines & Chronic Pain"; 2014, " Pain & Western Blots (Immunoblotting)"; 2015, "Migraines"; 2016, "Pain, Medication Overuse Headaches & DNIC"
 
Kimberly Munoz, 2018, " Chronic Pain Drug Screening: Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonist/Antagonist and Their Efficacy"; 2019, "Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression Between Male and Female Rodents"
 
Genesis Ochoa, 2022, "The Effects of Prolactin on Nociceptor Excitability"
 
NIH High School Student Research Program: 
Rosalie Cox, Salpointe Catholic High School, 1997
Veronica Gutierrez, Flowing Wells High School, 1997
Linzie Clark, Flowing Wells High School, 1998
Rachel Neubeck, Tucson High Magnet School, 1999
Steven James Stacey, Morenci Junior/Senior High School (Morenci, AZ), 2003
Pablo Hernandez, Catalina Magnet High School, 2011
Marlene Martinez, Desert View High School, 2012
Danielle Gomez, Desert View High School, 2012
Jerry Levitski, Tucson High Magnet School, 2012
Anyssa Benitez, Pueblo High Magnet School, 2013
Andrea VanDuinen, Rio Rico High School, 2013
Nathalie Mata, Catalina High School, 2014
Kimberly Munoz, Tucson High School, 2015, 2016, 2017
Esmeralda Salazar, Pueblo High School, 2015
Diviya Rajesh, Basis Tucson North High School, 2016
Chantal Figueroa, Douglas High School (Douglas, AZ), 2018
Joksan Gonzalez, Alta Vista High School, 2019
David Noriega, Pueblo High School, 2019, 2020
Brianna Scott, Flowing Wells High School, 2020
Genesis Ochoa, Bioscience High School (Phoenix, AZ), 2021
David Rojas, Pueblo High School, 2021
Josue Sarmiento, Douglas High School, 2023
 
NIH K-12 Science Teacher Program: 
Carol Dittmer, Kayenta Middle School, 1997
Timothy R. Blee, Carson Middle School, 1998
Lisa Mooney, Sunnyside High School, 1999
 
Friday, August 10, 2018